New Auburn, MN vs Preston, MN

Preston is moderately more affordable than New Auburn, with a 9.6% lower cost of living index. New Auburn scores 72 compared to 66 for Preston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of New Auburn can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in New Auburn is $900/month compared to $649/month in Preston — a 39% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Preston has cheaper rent, New Auburn actually has lower median home values ($140,900 vs $169,600).

Median household income in New Auburn is $68,977 compared to $60,438 in Preston (+14.1%). While New Auburn is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of New Auburn spend roughly 15.7% of their income on rent, more than the 12.9% in Preston.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.7°F vs 44.8°F). Preston receives more rainfall at 34.7" per year compared to 30.6" in New Auburn.